Bulk container with tapping adapter



July 19, 1966 G. F. SWENCK BULK CONTAINER WITH TAPPING ADAPTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1965 INVENTOR flaafzf 5521/12 496m flaw/2 July 19, 1966 G. F. SWENCK 3,261,505

BULK CONTAINER WITH TAPPING ADAPTER Filed May 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A IIQIQIYENTOR.

we 1 hZZ ZK 45% A22 44 0 f /5% A52 A579 4% flrmeA/Eys I July 19, 1966 e. F. SWENCK BULK CONTAINER WITH TAPPING ADAPTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 21, 1965 INVENTOR. fizzy; Fwy/Var firmen/f s July 19, 1966 G. F. SWENCK 3,261,505

BULK CONTAINER WITH TAPPING ADAPTER Filed May 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 llllflllll m I I j 156 j y 9, 1966 e. F. SWENCK BULK CONTAINER WITH TAPPING ADAPTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 21, 1965 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,261,505 BULK CONTAINER WITH TAIPING ADAPTER George F. Swenck, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 21, 1965, Ser. No. 457,721 Claims. (Cl. 222-83) This is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 232,357, filed October 23, 1962.

This invention relates to reusable containers for shipment of pourable bulk material and in particular to containers having a normally sealed outlet and to an improved tapping tool for use with the outlet for emptying the container.

Broadly, the invention contemplates a container having an outlet in its bottom portion which is normally closed, in part, by a thin membrance and a hollow tapping adapter which is connectable at one end into sealed engagement with the outlet and, if desired, at the other end to a standard hose. Within the adapter is retained a pointed or sharpened element which will puncture or rupture the membrance when forced into engagement therewith. Upon breakage of the membrane, the flowable contents of the container will flow into the adapter, past the puncturing element and out of the adapter into the hose or other container which has been provided to receive the material.

The membrane and the tapping adapter are particularly useful in combination with the type of container, disclosed in Swenck et al. application Serial No. 119,065, filed June 23, 1961, now abandoned, which is constructed of an upper and a lower section each of which may be nested within the other when the container is not in use. However, the principles of the sealing membrane in combination with the tapping adapter are applicable to other types of containers as will be apparent from the detailed description which follows. It will be appreciated that a single tapping adapter, according to the invention, will service a large number of containers sequentially and that the container outlet may be plugged and unplugged in the normal manner if at any time it is not desired to use the adapter. Since existing containers can be easily modified to receive the sealing membrane and the tapping adapter, the invention contemplates a flexible arrangement which does not involve expensive investment in new equipment or expensive modification of existing containers.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a container having a normally sealed outlet aperture and a reusable, hollow tapping adapter element which is connectable with the aperture to perforate a sealing membrane which normally comprises part of theoutlet closure means.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a container of the above type having a sealing membrane across the outlet aperture for preventing discharge of the contents of the container even in the absence of a conventional solid closure means and a reusable, hollow tapping adapter connectable to the aperture and operable thereafter for rupturing the sealing membrane to allow the container contents to discharge through the adapter element.

It is a further object of the present invention tolpro vide a tube-like tapping adapter of the above type which is connectable to the periphery of an aperture and which has an axially movable puncturing element therein for puncturing a sealing disk fixed in the aperture.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container constructed of an upper and a lower section which are detachably connected together and provided with an outlet aperture having a sealing membrane therein;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the container of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through two upper container sections and one lower container section in nested relationship;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a tapping adapter constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of the tapping adapter of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the tapping adapter of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a side view, partly in section, of the tapping adapter connected to the outlet of the container of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 10 is a side view, on a reduced scale, of the elements which, when assembled, constitute the puncturing blades of the tapping adapter;

FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a modified tapping adapter;

FIGURE 12 is a front elevational view of the tapping adapter of FIGURE 11; and

FIGURE 13 is a side view of the elements which, when assembled, constitute the puncturing blades of the adapter of FIGURE 11.

Referring to FIGURES 1-5, a container 10 embodying the principles of the present invention includes upper and lower sections 20 (20U and 20-L) of substantially identical size and shape, the lower section 20L being provided with a discharge bung 12. The sections 20 'have, respectively, generally rectangular bases or closed ends 22 (22-U and 22L) from which generally trapezoidal longer and shorter side walls 24 (24U and 24L) diverge toward open mouths that are slightly larger than the bases. The sections 20 are adapted to be assembled with their open months in opposition and to be secured together about the rims of such months in order to provide an assembled closed container especially adapted for shipment of bulk material or other products. It is contemplated that a container embodying this invention will be relatively large, with an overall height of the order of 4 /2 feet, an overall length of the order of 5 feet, and an overall width of the order of 4 feet.

The bases and the major portions of the side walls 24 of each section 20 are formed of relatively thin metal, preferably aluminum sheet, as shown at 28 in FIGURES 3 and 5. The open mouths, or rims of the sheet metal portions of the two sections 20 are reinforced by heavier endless upper and lower rim elements 30 and 32, respectively. These elements 30 and 32 preferably are formed of aluminum extrusions, and their inner sides have smooth uninterrupted peripheral surfaces 34 and 36, respectively, that are substantially flush, when the two container sections 20 are assembled to provide a smooth joint at the meeting edges between the two rim elements, as shown best in FIGURE 4. The inner sides of the rim elements 30 and 32 are recessed adjacent the edge portions thereof remote from their meeting edges, as at 38, so that the edge or rim portion of the sheet metal portion 28 of he corresponding container section 20 can be received in such recess and welded therein so as to be substantially flush with the smooth inner peripheral surfaces 34 and 36, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The meeting edge of the upper rim element 30 is provided with a depending somewhat tapered endless rib or tongue 40, while the meeting edge of the lower rim element 32 is provided with an endless groove 42, generally complementary to the rib but of somewhat greater width and depth. Disposed in the groove 42 is an endless resilient tubula-r sealing strip or gasket 44 adapted to be compressed by the rib 40 on the upper rim element 30, when the two container sections 20 are secured together, in order to form a tight seal therebetween, again as shown in FIGURE 3. The outer side of the rim element 30 of the upper section 20-U is provided with an outwardly facing peripheral groove or recess 46, while the outer side of the rim element 32 of the lower section 20-L is provided with a somewhat similar outwardly facing peripheral groove or recess 48 substantially the same as the recess 46 in the upper rim element. The recesses 46 and 48 thus define outwardly extending lips 50 and 51, respectively, which are held in engagement by spaced bolts 52 and nuts 53 passing through holes 54 therein. While the bolts 52 and nuts 53 provide a relatively trouble-free fastening mechanism, it will be realized that other fastening mechanisms may be provided.

The edges of the upper and lower rim elements 30 and 32 remote from the meeting edges terminate in lips 56 and 58 spaced outwardly from the sides of the sheet metal portions 28 of the corresponding container sections 20 in order to provide an undercut configuration. The edges of the lips 56 and 58 define abutments 60 and 62, respectively, each adapted to engage with an abutment 64 or 66 on the meeting edges of the rim elements 30 and 32, respectively, when the container sections 20 are nested, in order to support each inner nested section solely on the rim elements of the outer, as shown in FIGURE 5. Moreover, the engagement of the abutment 56 or 58 with 64 or 66 of the rim elements, when container sections 20 are nested, maintains appreciable clearance between the confronting surfaces of the sheet metal portions 28. It will thus be seen that a plurality of container sections still can be nested in any order while preserving the aforementioned desirable clearances.

The corner portions 68 of each container section 20, at the junction between the side walls 24 thereof, preferably are rounded in order to strengthen and minimize damage to these areas of the container sections 20 during shipment, particularly when the sections are assembled to form a container and the latter is filled. Similarly, and for the same reasons, the corner portions 70 between each base 22 and its side Walls 24 and 26 are smoothly rounded, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. From the foregoing construction, it will be seen that the container sections 20 will have between the corner portions 68 and between the corner portions 70 and the corresponding rim elements, relatively large generally planar side wall areas formed of thin sheet metal.

In order to strengthen and stiffen the large generally planar side wall areas of each container section 20, the side walls 24 of the section 20 are formed with a stepped configuration in vertical section, as best shown in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 5. Each step 72 terminates short of the lateral edges of the planar portions of the side walls and is made up of a substantially vertical riser section 74 and an inwardly inclined tread section 7 6, the latter obviously serving to stiffen and reinforce the large planar side wall areas against bending in horizontal planes. Although not essential, it is desirable that all of the steps 72 be of equal dimension. The tread sections 76 may be inclined at an angle of the order of 45 and have a horizontal dimension of the order of the desired clearance between the side walls 24 of nested sections 20. Preferably, the riser sections 74 have a considerably greater vertical dimension than the horizontal dimension of the tread sections. It also is desirable for the vertical overall dimension of each step 72, including both the riser and tread sections 74 and 76, be substantially equal to the distances between the oppositely facing abutments 60, 64 and 62, 66 on the upper and lower rim elements 30 and 32. Thus, for ex- 4 ample, the overall heights of a step 72 may be about 2%".

With these proportions it will be seen that either an upper or a lower container section 20-U or 20-L can readily be nested within either an upper or a lower section and maintain the desired clearance between the side walls thereof, as shown in FIGURE 5.

Because containers embodying this invention preferably are relatively large, as aforedescribed, manufacture of the sheet metal portions 28, of a container section 20 by a drawing operation becomes extremely difficult, if not almost impossible, by present-day processes and apparatus. Accordingly, it is desirable to construct the sheet metal portion 28 of a container section 20 in different parts or sections which can readily be welded together to form the complete sheet metal portion of a section.

Thus, for example, the base 22 of each section 20 and two side walls 24 can be formed integrally from sheet aluminum by stamping and bending operations, the latter forming the curved corner portions between the base and side walls. Each of the other side walls 24, together with two rounded corner portions 68 between adjacent side walls and the corner portion between the base 22 and the first-mentioned side walls 24, can be formed integrally from sheet aluminum by a stamping and drawing operation which simultaneously forms the stepped configuration in the planar portion of the side wall and the rounded corner portions. The resulting parts have straight edges that can be Welded, as at 77 in FIGURE 2, to the edges of the part forming the base 22 and two of the side walls 24.

The closed end or base 22 of each section 20-U and 20-L preferably is provided with a plurality of spaced elongated depressed areas 86 extending across the base for stiffening purposes, as shown in FIGURE 1. These depressed areas 86 terminate short of the edges of the planar portions of the base 22 in order to avoid the manufacturing difficulties attendant the formation of the corner portions 70 by a binding process, were such areas '86 extended around or into such rounded corner portions 70. The base 22 of the upper section 20-U is provided with a centrally located filling opening having a suitably reinforced rim 88 adapted for the reception of a removable closure 90.

In order to facilitate handling by fork lift trucks or the like, each lower section 20-L preferably is provided with stub legs 92 adjacent its four corners; It also is desirable for the containers to be stacked with facility and stability. For this purpose the base 22 of each upper section 20-U is provided with upwardly tapering stacking lugs 94 and the legs 92 are provided with sockets 95 in the bottom thereof, so that, when stacked, the sockets 95 in the legs of an upper container snugly receive the lugs 94 of a lower container to stabilize the stack.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the legs 92 are secured as by welding to one of two bearing plates 96 which are welded to opposite edges of the bottom of the lower base section 22-L. Each bearing plate consists of a relatively narrow fiat portion which extends completely along one edge of the lower base section 22-L and three integral curved portions which overlap the junctions between the base 22-L and the side walls 24. Two of the curved portions 98 are integral with the flat portion at opposite ends thereof and the third curved portion 100 is integral with the flat portion along the outer edge thereof. The plates 96 are cut away between adjacent curved portions and opposite the curved corner portions 70 of the container.

According to one feature of the invention the discharge bung 12, shown positioned in a lower corner of the container 10, is provided with a sealing membrane 102 and a closure plug 104 which, when in position in the bung aperture, supports the membrane 102 against accidental rupture. As best shown in FIGURE 4, an opening in the junction between the lower portions of two of the side walls 24 has sealed thereto, as by a continuous weld 106, an interiorly threaded bushing 108 which extends into the container 10. The bushing 108 terminates inwardly in a flat planar surface to which a flat-surfaced retainer ring 110 is secured by spaced bolts 112. The membrane 102, which may be metal foil of about 0.002 inch in thickness, is clamped between the retainer ring 110 and the inner end of the bushing 108. The surface of the retaining ring which faces the bushing 108 is slightly recessed as an aid in centering the ring when installing the same.

The bore of the bushing 108 is stepped to a slightly greater diameter at its outer end thus forming a rearwardly facing shoulder 114. The outer end of the closure plug 104 is provided with a radial flange 116 which seats on the shoulder 114, a gasket ring 118 being provided therebetween. The closure plug 104 has a length such that its inner end, which is flat and smooth, abuts but does not rupture the membrane 106. The outer surface of the plug 104 is provided with a pair of recesses 120 to receive a suitable tool (not shown) for screwing the plug 104 into and out of the bushing 108.

According to another feature of the present invention, a tapping adapter 122, illustrated in FIGURES 6-9, is provided for breaking the membrane 102 and for permitting the contents of the container to flow through the adapter without spilling. As seen in FIGURES 6 and 8, the adapter includes an outer tube-like member 124 and an inner tubular member 126 concentric with and slidably engaging the bore of the outer tube-like member 124-. The outer member 124 is provided with external threads 128 at one end for engaging the internal threads of the bushing 108 and with additional external threads 130 at its other, or discharge end for attachment to a standard hose 132 (FIGURE 9).

The body portion of the outer tube-like member 124 intermediate the threads 128 and 130 is provided with a circumferential flange 134 which is located slightly rearwardly of the threads 128. As seen in FIGURE 9, the forward face of the flange 134 sealingly engages the gasket ring 118 in the bushing 108 when the adapter has been screwed into the bushing 108 and prevents the outer member 124 from penetrating far enough to break the membrane 102. The body portion of the outer tubelike member 124 is also provided with two diametrically opposed, longitudinal slots 136 which extend through the wall of the member.

Through the slots 136 extend the opposite ends of a pin 138 which is secured to and passes diametrically through the inner tubular member 126. The pin 138 is longitudinally slidable in the slots and thus determines the extent of longitudinal movement of the inner member 126 within the outer member 124. A circumferential groove carrying an O-ring 139 is provided near each end of the inner member 126 so that container contents will not contaminate or pass through the clearance space between the members 124 and 126.

Secured to the forward end of the inner tubular member 126 of the tapping adapter 122 is a puncturing element 140 which extends forwardly of the member 126. As shown in FIGURE 10, the element 140 is constructed of three thin plates 142, 144 and 146, each of which has generally the shape of an isosceles triangle. The edges of the sides of the plates which are of equal length are ground or cut to a knife edge 148, and the ends of the base are cut away in the manner shown to provide a short shank portion 150 which is insertable into the bore of the inner tubular member 126 and a pair of shoulders 152 which are engageable with the forward end of the member 126.

Each of the plates 142, 144 and 146 is provided with one or two slots 154 extending from the apex toward the base or from the base toward the apex in order that the plates may be fitted together to form the puncturing element 140. As will be apparent from the dimensions and locations of the slots 154 in the three plates 142, 144

and 146, plate 144 can be rotated 60 with respect to plate 142 and slot in the base of the former engaged with the slot at the apex of the latter. Plate 146 can then be placed midway between the first two plates by engaging the slot in its base with the slots at the apexes of plates 142 and 144. The shank portions 150 of the resulting element 140, as seen in FIGURES 6-9, may then be inserted into the bore of the inner tubular member 126 so as to provide six knife edges 148 which extend forwardly and radially inwardly from the periphery of the inner tubular member 126 to a common point 156 on the axis of the member 126. The puncturing element 140 is secured to the member 126 as by brazing the shoulder portions 152 to the forward end of the member 126 as at 158.

It will be apparent that other constructions of the tubular members 124 and 126 and the puncturing element 140 may be utilized so long as the puncturing means can be actuated from outside the adapter and does not obstruct flow of the container contents and so long as means are provided for preventing leakage of container contents from the adapter.

A modified tapping adapter 122' which embodies all the necessary features of the adapter described above is shown in FIGURES ll, 12 and 13. The adapter 122 achieves all of the advantages of the first-described adapter and is of simpler, more economical construction in that it does not require an inner sleeve such as the sleeve 126 of FIGURES 6-9. As shown, the adapter 122' includes a single tube-like member 124' designed to be threaded at one end into the bushing 108 of FIGURES 4 and 9 and an inner movable membrane-puncturing element 140. The right-hand end of the tubular member 124' is provided with external threads 128' for mating with the internal threads of the bushing 108 and with a shoulder 134 for limiting entry of the tubular member 124' into the bushing 108. The left-hand, or discharge end of the tubular member 124' is provided with external threads for engagement with a hose such as the hose 13-2 of FIGURE 9.

The puncturing element consists of three plates 142, 144' and 146 which are longitudinally movable as a unit within the tubular member 124'. As seen in FIG- URE 13, each of the plates has a pointed sharpened forward edge 148 and straight parallel side edges 164, the latter slidably engaging the inner wall of the tubular member 124', as shown in FIGURE 12. The front and rear edges are suitably slotted at 154' to permit assembly of the plates into a unitary configuration in which the apices of the sharpened edges 148 coincide, as described with respect to the puncturing element 141). Joining of the plates may be accomplished by applying solder to the apex of the assembly. The actuating mechanism for the puncturing element 140 includes a crank shaft 166 extending diametrically through the tubular member at a location intermediate the threaded ends thereof. As best shown in FIGURE 11, the crank shaft 166 has one of its ends 168 journalled in a socket in the inner surface of the wall of the member 124' and its other end 170 disposed outside the member 124'. A handle 172 extending parallel to the axis of the member 124 is aflixed to the outer end 170 of the shaft 166 as by means of a pin 174. A seal is provided where the shaft passes through the wall of the member 124', the seal comprising an exteriorly threaded collar 17 6 screwed into a recess in the outer surface of the wall of the member 124'. An O-ring 178 is compressed between the lower end of the collar and a washer 180 which is disposed in the bottom of the recess.

Intermediate the ends of the crank shaft 166 is an offset crank portion 182 which cooperates with the puncturing element 140 to move the latter longitudinally in the tubular member 124. As seen in FIGURE 13, the shank portion of the plate 142 opposite the edge 148 is provided with a slot 184. In the assembled device, as seen in FIGURE 11, the crank portion 182 of the shaft 166 passes through the slot 184 and cooperates therewith to slide the entire puncturing element 140 longitudinally of the tubular member 124' upon rotation of the shaft 166. The shank portions of the plates 144 and 146 are cut out as at 186 to accommodate the crank portion 182 in its different positions.

The crank portion 182 of the shaft 166 is provided with a pair of washers 188, one of which engages each side of the plate 142'. The washers 188 are retained in place by snap rings 190' which fit into circumferential grooves (not shown) in the crank portion 182.

In use of the container 10 of FIGURES 1-5 for storing or transporting pourable material, escape of the contents is prevented by the closure plug 104 which has been screwed into the bushing 108 of the bung 12 so as to engage the foil membrane 102. Thus, pressure within the container or the weight of the contents cannot rupture the membrane 102 while the plug is in the bushing 108.

When it is desired to empty the container 10, the plug 104 is unscrewed from the bushing 108 and the threaded end 128 or 128, the tapping adapter 122 or 122' is screwed into the opening until a seal is formed between the gasket 118 and the flange 134 or 134'. When performing this operation, the operator must be sure that the puncture element 140 or 140' is in the retracted position as shown, for example, in dotted lines in FIGURE 8. The membrane 102 normally has sufiicient strength to retain the contents within the container in the absence of vibration or jarring. Obviously, the more fluid and the more dense the contents, the thicker must be the membrane if rupture of the latter is to be'avoided at this stage. After the adapter 122 or 122' has been inserted, the hose 132 may be connected to its exposed end.

To operate the tapping adapter 122 of FIGURES 6-10 after it has been connected to the bushing 108, the operator manually forces the pin 138 forwardly toward the container 10 so as to move the inner tubular member 126 and the attached plates 142, 144 and 146 into the solid line position shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. As the inner member 126 approaches the forward limit of its travel, the common apex 156 of the plates 142, 144 and 146 pierces the foil membrane 102 at its center and the six knife edges 148 thoroughly rip or cut the remainder. Upon rupturing of the membrane 102, the contents of the container will flow by gravity between the plates 142, 144, 146, through the inner tubular member 126 and into the hose 132. When the container 10 becomes empty, the hose 132 is removed from the adapter 122 and the latter is removed from the bushing 108 and stored for future use. Before the container 10 is refilled, the retainer ring 110 is unscrewed and the torn foil is removed and re placed with a new membrane 102.

The tapping adapter 122' of FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 is operated by manually turning the handle 172 to the position shown in FIGURE 11. In this position the crank portion 182 of the shaft 166 is disposed toward the theraded end 128' and positions the apex of the puncturing element 140 outside the tubular member 124. T o retract the puncturing element into the tubular member 124' the handle 172 is manually turned through an arc of about 180. The resulting rotation of the crank portion 182 within the slot 184 of the plate 142' causes the entire puncturing element 140' to slide to the left as viewed in FIGURE 11. The offset of the crank portion 182 is sufiicient to assure that the apex of the element 140 can be positioned wholly inside the tubular member 124'.

Thus it will be appreciated that the present invention provides an improved means for tapping a container of the type having a rupturable or frangible closure member. It will be appreciated also that the disclosed membrane closure and tapping adapter, while being of particular value in the type of container which is reused many times, may be used with any type of container. While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and element of lesser cross-sectional area than the bore of said 8 illustrated, the details thereof are not intended to be limiting except as they appear in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a container having an outlet aperture adapted to have pourable contents removed therethrough without spillage: a tubular member having open ends and releasably connected at one of its ends to said aperture and extending outwardly thereof, the other of its ends having coupling means associated therewith for releasably connecting said other end with means for receiving the contents of said container; a rupturable membrane closing said aperture; a membrane-puncturing member carried within said tubular member and axially reciprocable therein between a membrane-puncturing position and a position spaced from said membrane, said puncturing member occupying only part of the cross section of the bore of said tubular member to thereby permit the contents of the container to flow past said puncturing member and through said other end of said tubular member when said membrane is in a ruptured condition; and actuating means for moving said puncturing member between said positions, said actuating means being disposed outside said tubular member and laterally thereof and cooperating with said puncturing member through the wall of said tubular member.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said puncturing member includes a blade having a cutting edge facing said one end of said tubular member and in which said actuating means includes a rotatable shaft and connecting means disposed within said tubular member between said shaft and said blade for converting rotational movement of said shaft into longitudinal movement of said blade along the axis of said tubular member.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said puncturing member slidably engages the inner surface of the wall of said tubular member and in which said connecting means includes a crank portion which is offset from the axis of said shaft, said crank portion cooperating with said puncturing member.

4. Apparatus for tapping a container having a discharge aperture and a rupturable sealing membrane across said aperture comprising: an open-ended tubular member having coupling means at one end for releasably connecting to the container to be emptied; a membrane-puncturing tubular member carried within said tubular member, said element being movable between a membrane-puncturing poistion near said one end and a position remote from said one end but still entirely within said tubular member; and actuating means for moving said puncturing element between said positions, said actuating means being disposed outside said tubular member and laterally thereof and cooperating with said puncturing element through the wall of said tubular member.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said puncturing element includes a rigid open-ended sleeve slidable within said tubular member and carrying a blade at the end nearest said one end of said tubular member, said blade projecting longitudinally beyond said sleeve.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said means for moving said puncturing element includes a projection on said sleeve extending through an aperture in the wall of said tubular member, the aperture being of a size to permit movement of said projection in an axial direction and the wall of said sleeve closing said aperture to prevent leakage of material through said aperture.

7. Apparatus as in claim 4 in which said puncturing member includes a blade having acutting edge facing said one end of said tubular member and in which said actuating means includes a rotatable shaft and connecting means disposed within said tubular member between said shaft and said blade for converting rotational movement of said shaft into longitudinal movement of said blade along the axis of said tubular member.

8. The combination of claim 2 in which said puncturing member slidably engages the inner surface of the wall of said tubular member and in which said connecting means includes a crank portion which is offset from the axis of said shaft, said crank portion cooperating with said puncturing member.

9. A container adapted to have pourable contents therein removed without spillage comprising: means defining an outlet aperture in a wall of said container, said means including an interiorly threaded bushing having an inner end inside said container and an outer end outside said container; a rupturable membrane engaging the inner end of said bushing; means for releasably sealing said membrane to said inner end of said bushing; a tube-like member threaded at one end into the outer end of said bushing; means for limiting the penetration of said tube-like member into said bushing whereby the inner end of said member lies outwardly of said membrane; membrane puncturing means axially reciprocable in said tube-like member between a forward membrane-rupturing position and a position spaced from said membrane, said puncturing means occupying only part of the cross section of the bore of said tube-like member; and means cooperating with said puncturing means and extending through the Wall of said tube-like member for axially moving said puncturing means.

10. In combination with a container for pourable material: means defining an interiorly threaded outlet aperture; a threaded imperforate plug within said aperture; a rupturable membrane; a clamping ring :releasably secured to said aperture-defining means and clamping said mem- 1 0 brane across said aperture inwardly of said plug, the inner end of said plug abutting substantially the entire outer surface of said membrane to prevent rupture thereof by the contents of said container; and stop means for preventing inward movement of said plug beyond its abutting position with said membrane.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 224,577 2/1880 Browne 222-541 X 456,934 8/1891 Bartley et al 222-545 X 93 8,644 11/1909 Curtis 222-83 1,242,654 10/1917 Chapman 222-545 X 2,023,397 12/1935 Blomgren 222- 2,457,707 12/1948 Neuman et al 222-5 X 2,472,506 6/1949 Zieschang 169-31 2,699,216 1/1955 Allen 169-31 X 2,732,017 1/ 1956 Fleming 169-31 2,783,091 2/1957 Haldy 222-541 X 2,814,418 11/1957 Rieke 220-27 X 2,908,418 10/1959 Gallay 220-91 X 2,962,185 11/1960 Starr et a1 220-27 X 3,094,155 6/ 1963 Ta-ramasso et a1. 222-83 X FOREIGN PATENTS 632,872 12/1949 Great Britain.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

4. APPARATUS FOR TAPPING A CONTAINER HAVING A DISCHARGE APERTURE AND A RUPTURABLE SEALING MEMBERANE ACROSS SAID APERTURE COMPRISING: AN OPEN-ENDED TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING COUPLING MEANS AT THE END FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING TO THE CONTAINER TO BE EMPTIED; A MEMBRANE-PUNCTURING ELEMENT OF LESSER CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THAN THE BORE OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER CARRIED WITHIN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID ELEMENT BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A MEMBRANE-PUNCTURING POSITION NEAR SAID ONE END AND A POSITION REMOTE FROM SAID ONE END BUT STILL ENTIRELY WITHIN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER; AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PUNCTURING ELEMENT BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS, SAID ACTUATING MEANS BEING DISPOSED OUTSIDE SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND LATERALLY THEREOF AND COOPERATING WITH SAID PUNCTURING ELEMENT THROUGH THE WALL OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER.
 10. IN COMBINATION WITH A CONTAINER FOR POURABLE MATERIAL: MEANS DEFINING AN INTERIORLY THREADED OUTLET APERTURE; A THREADED IMPERFORATE PLUG WITHIN SAID APERTURE; A RUPTURABLE MEMBRANE; A CLAMPING RING RELEASABLY SECURED TO SAID APERTURE-DEFINING MEANS AND CLAMPING SAID MEMBRANE ACROSS SAID APERTURE INWARDLY OF SAID PLUG, THE INNER END OF SAID PLUG ABUTTING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID MEMBRANE TO PREVENT RUPTURE THEREOF BY THE CONTENTS OF SAID CONTAINER; AND STOP MEANS FOR PREVENTING INWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PLUG BEYOND ITS ABUTTING POSITION WITH SAID MEMBRANE. 